As many of you already know I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2015. Due to the amazing doctors, nurses and surgeons at the Royal Marsden and the world class treatment I have been and continue to receive, I am starting to live my life again, and feel able to support this amazing trust by doing something that I used to enjoy so much. Lets see how it goes as I haven't had the opportunity to do much riding yet. Thank you for your support, Elliot.

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The Royal Marsden have been amazing and their pioneering work has led to me receiving a newer type of treatment, immunotherapy (Pembrolizumab), for my type of cancer. The approval for this was made possible by BUPA through UK Sport and I cannot thank them enough for their continuous support on multiple levels, and for enabling and allowing me to receive this new treatment. I hope it can help other patients in the future.

We have set up this Team Willis fundraising page to raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, so they can continue to do the great work they do, promote early diagnosis, provide the very best treatment and care for cancer patients in the best way they can.

In a true Willis fashion, we have set up a team page, which means that you can also organise your own fundraising event and add to the Team Willis fundraising page! If you feel inspired and feel like you would want to raise even more money, donate and set up your own Big C challenge to raise money. Go to http://www.justgiving.com/teams/TeamWillis to join directly or send any of us a message and we'll invite you to the team! Lets raise as much money as possible!

We would also like to use this opportunity to create bigger awareness for early diagnosis in cancer. Cancer doesn't discriminate in age, ever. Cancer is unfortunately around all of us and it can sadly happen to anyone at anytime. So, if something doesn't feel right, doesn't look right, if anything changes or if you just don't trust it, please go see your GP and ask for a referral if you are not satisfied. Screening should not just take place once you've reached a certain age, screening should be done whenever you have symptoms, no matter how old you are. Age (and fitness) should never, ever be part of the criteria for referral to a specialist. If this helps anyone else from going through the same, we've done our job. Hopefully, this will get picked up on international level, so doctors are encouraged to refer their patients so they can get checked properly and possibly diagnosed quicker. The procedures should be revised, which would save the NHS and insurers money for treatment in the long run and could potentially (and hopefully) save lives.

We would like to thank BUPA for making things possible and for being by our side the past 9 months. Obviously we would also like to thank the Royal Marsden Hospital for their incredible support, professionalism and personalised care. All the staff at the Marsden are incredible and are doing an amazing job!